Adjustable pole pitch dynamoelectric machinery



Aprll 13, 1954 c. E. ELLIS 2,675,494

ADJUSTABLE POLE PITCH DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINERY Filed Nov. 20, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHARLES E. ELLIS BY W, W fizu iai A ATTORNEYS.

April 13, 1954 c. E. ELLIS 2,675,494

ADJUSTABLE POLE PITCH DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINERY Filed Nov. 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES E. ELLIS W YMM A ORNEYS C. E. ELLIS April 13, 1954 ADJUSTABLE POLE PITCH DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINERY 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 20, 1951 ioooooQoooeooo-oo INVENTOR CHARLES E. ELLIS BY W Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLEPDLE rrrcn DYNAMO- EEEGTRIC MACHINERY.

Gharles:E..Ellis, Mahwah; Application November 20, 1951, scrim Ne; 257,216

This invention relates to; alternating current dynamoelectric machinery; More -specifically; it has to do'with new and-improvedadjustablemole pitch dynamo electric machinery that can be operated as an adjustable'speed induction' motor with greater effectiveness and better efii'oiency than has been attainable-previously.

It has been proposed; heretofore, to secure adjustable speed motor operation of alternating current dynamoelectric machinery by providing means for adjusting the-- pitch between-theseveral poles thereof. My Patent No. 2-,470',7 7,issued May 24, 1949, forexample, discloses apparatus of this type in-which axially extending rows of pol-es are provided-at-differentpositions around the rotor, together with'means fonskewing each row of" polesaroundithe'i'otor" to adjust the pole pitch.- Wliile suchapparatus effective, it tends to be heavier-than'conventional motor apparatus of the same power-rating because of the additionaliron'laminationsrequired to provide paths for the axial and transverse magnetic fluxes that are d-evelop'ed'in-the rotor. Further, sincethe several rows of poles'are not magnetically independent, the rotating fi'eld developed contains undesirable components which act at speed settingsbelowfulljspeedto'reduce the operating efiiciency.

My copending application Serial" No: 1583492,

filed April 27, 1950, for Adjustable Pole Pitch Dynamo Electric Machine discloses severalfurther modifications utilizing a plirralityw ffmagnetically independent, multipole field st'ructures which provide only transverse-paths for magnetic flux inthe rotor, axial magnetic fliix being substantially eliminated.. Motors of this: type may be appropriately termed crosssfluxvtzmotors. In the absence of axial fiux no additional iron or special laminationsifontaniaxial flunapath are. needed, so thatxasimpler armless-expensive construction results. While-apparatus of.. this character is also" effective; its efiictencyqiswinherently lower at low speed settings: than that for machinery designed=accordingr to: theepresent invention. I I

Accordingly, it is: the. purpose 0f. the. present invention to provide alternating.currentldynamoelectric apparatus capable of effective operation as an adjustable speedmotor, which 'is.siinp le and relativelyinexpensive in' construction yet efiicient' in" operation; Broadly speaking; this is accomplished by-dis'posing aplhrality'of magnetic poles in a row extending axially of the rotor, the pole f acesfacing' the rotowand being spaced thereiromby a relativelynarrow aingap. 1

The poles in theirow are: axially yoked together and axial magnetic yoke means is also provided for therotor; Further; the magnetic poles are monnte'dafor; relative movement transversely of therowm to: permihadjustment of the pole pitch over: a range wide enough to: secure the range of: speed control desired.

Preferablmaplurality of rows of axially yoked magnetic poles: are employed,v the several rows being angularlyi spaced apart. aboutv the rotor. In; suchzcase, provision is. made for relatively wide air:.: gaps betweenv corresponding poles in theplurality? of rowszto insure. substantial magneticzzindependence between each axially extending stator yoke with its-associated poles and the others; The: rotor. axial magnetic yoke means, however; is'common to. all of the magnetic poles in the. machine;

With. this" construction, axial magnetic flux flows-undenthe rotor-windings and only the use ful'amount: of annular magnetic flux is developed in: the rotor; Hence, motors of this type may conveniently be designated axial-flux motors. lrrsuchsmotors, the: production of undesired components in. therotating. magnetic field is inhibited; and: the .rotary. space: rate of allfield components. includingtboth the rotary resultant field rate and the average rate is adjustable, resulting in: the-equivalent of an adjustable frequency fieldwhent viewed from the rotor. Furthermore, inrthe axial flux motor, the field flux couples. or.- linksv only that annular portion of the'irotor windinglying betweenand under the phase poles of. each row, whereas in the crossfluxmotor, each phase ring links the entire rotor in aufixed:inductivecoupling regardlessof the positions of the phase poles relative to each other. Asia". result, the axial flux motor has'improved operating: characteristics: and good efficiency.

Additional; objects. and' advantages of the inventioncwill be apparentfrom the following detailedidescription ofa representative embodiment,= taken inconj unctionwith the accompanying. drawingsin which;.

Fig. 1 is a view in-elevation, partially in longitudinal. section, of an. alternating: current dynamoelectric. machine. constructed according tolithe invention Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken aIonglineJ -Zjof Fig. 1, looking in the direc tio'ngof 'the'arrows'i I 7 Fig. 3fisaschematicfieveloped view of a modifleation embcdyingmeans for substantially neutralizi'xig any negative sequence stator field cornponent i and Figs. 4 and show schematically means for compensating for magnetic leakage in the machine of Figs. 1 and 2.

The typical embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by way of illustration comprises a housing In, preferably of nonmagnetic material, mounted on suitable base members I i and i2 and having end bells l3 and I4 secured thereto by bolts, for example. The end bells l3 and I4 carry conventional bearings l5 and [6 in which is journalled a shaft 11 carrying a rotor IS. The rotor I8 may be of the squirrel cage induction motor type comprising a plurality of parallel conductors l9 embedded in slots and insulated throughout their lengths therefrom, although a conventional wound rotor may be employed. Mounted on the shaft H are conventional fan blades 2i and 22 which are adapted to cooperate with openings 23 and 24 formed in the end bells l3-and M,

respectively, and with slots 25 (Fig. 2) formed in the housing ID to insure proper ventilation and cooling of the motor.

Within the housing In and spaced from the rotor 18 by an air gap are a plurality of ringlike members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26A, 28B and 26C of channel shaped cross-section and made of nonmagnetic material each of which carries a plurality of magnetic pole members. Two such pole members disposed 180 apart are shown in the exemplary form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1. Since the ring-like members are identical, it will be necessary to describe only one in detail, corresponding parts in the others being designated by corresponding reference numerals with appropriate letters.

The ring-like member 26C has secured thereto two magnetic members 210, each including a pole piece 280 and a horn-like member 290. The pole pieces 28C carry energizing windings 30C and MC which may be double layer field windings of the concentric type, for example. The horn-like members 29C provide paths for magnetic flux from the magnetic members 21A, 27B, 21C, 21A, 21B and 21C to axial yoke members 32 secured on opposite sides of the housing In, for all posinetic members 21A, 21B, 21C, 21A, 21B and 21C should be made of stacked laminations disposed substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. Further, the axial yoke members 32 should preferably be electrically insulated from the magnetic members as by very narrow air gaps 33, for example. The ring-like members should also be slotted as at 4| in Fig. 2 and insulated from the housing l0 so as to prevent any ring-like member from constituting a short-circuited turn for axial flux through the rotor. Also, a relatively wide air gap should be provided between the hornlike member 290 of a ring-like member and the adjacent edge of the opposite magnetic member 210 so as to render the two opposite magnetic members 210 magnetically independent.

The ring-like members 26A, 26B, 26C, 25A, 26B, 26C are mounted in the housing I!) for rotation about the rotational axis of the machine. A suitable mounting might comprise, for example, flanged roller bearings 34, 34A, 34B, 34C, 34A, 34B and 34C mounted on common shafts 60. four sets of such bearings located 90 apart being shown in Fig. 2. The roller bearings may be enclosed by a suitable housing 35 securedto 4 the motor housing I U in any suitable manner as by cap screws 36, for example.

The rotor l8 comprises a plurality of stacked annular radial laminations 6| within which is disposed axially extending magnetic yoke means comprising a plurality of stacked axial laminations 31 mounted between ribs 38 secured on the shaft H. Th annular laminations 6| should be slotted as at 39 so as to prevent any lamination from forming a' short-circuited ring for axial flux through the rotor, and the slots and adjacent laminations should be staggered to allow flux to pass annularly around the rotor beneath the rotor windings. Also, suitable means such as a narrow air gap or thin insulating material 62 should be placed between the axial laminations 3! and the annular laminations 6!, so as to prevent two sets of laminations from shortcircuiting each other. A narrow air gap may be maintained between the laminations 6i and 31 by placing strips of insulating material 40 between each of the ribs 38 and the annular laminations 6|. These insulating strips 46 will also serve to prevent the ribs 38 from shorting the annular laminations 6 l Adjustable speed is attained, according to the invention, by adjusting the pitch between the poles carried by th several ring-like members. To this end, external ring gears 42A, 42B, 42C, 42A, 42B and 42C are formed on the corresponding ring-like members as shown in Fig. 1. The ring gears 42A, 42B and 42C are adjusted to be driven by corresponding bevel gears 43A, 43B and 43C of progressively greater diameter mounted on a common hub 44 turning on a support 63. The hub 44 also carries a bevel gear 45 driven by a gear 46 on a shaft 41 which is adapted to be rotated by a reel 48, or other actuating member. The reel may be provided with finger holes 64 or the like to facilitate manual adjustment of the ring-like members.

Similarly, the gears 42C, 42B, 42A are adapted to be driven in the opposite direction by corresponding bevel gears 43C, 4313 and 43A of progressively greater diameter mounted on a common hub 49 mounted on a support 55. The hub 49 also carries a gear 50 which is also adapted to be driven by the gearing 46 on the shaft 41. It will be understood that rotation of the reel 48 by hand or by a belt or other suitable means will cause the pitch between adjacent poles to be adjusted as required to secure the desired speed of rotation for the motor.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the two innermost ring-like members 260' and 26A will receive the greatest displacement for any given rotation of the reel 48, whereas the endmost ring-like members 26A and 26C receive. the smallest displacement. Accordingly, rotation of .the reel 48 results in adjusting the pitch between adjacent poles so as to form two oppositely skewed rows of. poles, one row including the ringlike members 26A, 26B and 26C and the other row comprising the ring-like members 26A, 26B and 26C.

The opposed sets of windings 30C and MC are connected in series in such fashion that the opposed poles on the ring-like member 250 will have the same instantaneous polarity, and the windings on the other ring-like members are similarly connected. Further, the windings on the ring-likemembers 26A, 26B and 26C, respectively, are connected to the three phases of a t r gnha o rcaasa e t w s on he ring-like members= .26A-"; 263i and 266 respec tively.. I

In: operation, the reel 48 is normally in the starting; position: with the pairs. of poles: carried by the several ring-like members; in. axial alignment. In this. position, no voltage'is induced in the conductors l9, since the stator. flux does not link the rotor bars. Accordingly, in this position the motor is at-.rest.. As the-reel 481 is rotated from the starting position, each axial rowof poles is divided into. two rowswhich are skewed in onposite directions with respect toleachiother. Underthese conditions, each row of poles produces a rotating magnetic field which. induces currents in the rotor conductors l9 andcauses therotor IBto run at aspeedxthatlis a: function of the effective field rotational? velocity as determined by the space angular pitch between successive phases and the inductive response of the rotor conductors.

Thev alternating current dynamoelectric machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and described above has a negative sequence stator field component which is zero at zero-skew, a maximum at onehalf per unit skew and again zero at field unit skew. Although this field iscomparatively small inmagnitude, even at itsmaximum, it is responsible forenergy losses which tendto reduce the efiiciency of the machine. If desired, these losses can be substantially eliminated by providing means for cancelling out the rotor voltage produced by the stator negative sequence field component by inducing in the rotor another negative sequence voltage of equal magnitude and opposite phase, asshownschematicallyin Fig. 3.

In the schematic developed view shown in Fig. 3., a plurality of magnetic poles 1|, 12, 13, l4, l5 and 1B are shown in a row extending axially of the rotor is with their poles faces facing the rotor and being spaced'therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap. As'in the form of the invention. shown in Figs. 1 and 2; an axial magnetic yoke 11. is provided ior'yoking the poles II-l6, inclusive, together magnetically.

Mounted on thepoles II-T6, inclusive, are the main field windings 1843; inclusive, which are connected.- in: series to the three phase mains Ll, L2, L3, as shown. Also mounted on the poles ii-16, inclusive, either alongside or underneath the main windings 18-83, respectively, and in; the same slots area plurality of neutralizing windings 84-89, inclusive. These are connected in. series but in opposite phase sequence to the main windings so as to produ'cea component of stator field rotating oppositely to the main field. This opposing rotating fieldis so polarized that it tends to cancel out thenegative sequence component. of the main field which exists at pole pitches less than full pole pitch.

The neutralizing field should be: capable of adjustment as required tocancel out'the negative sequence component of themain field at various skews. Accordingly, suitable means such as the shunt rheostats Elli, 9| and Marc provided for permitting adjustment" of the neutralizing field strength.

Instead of mounting the' neutralizing windings onthe same poles asthe main windings, as shown in Fig. 3, theformer may be located on a sepa rate stator disposed alongside the main stator andcoupledto the single rotor l8. In such case, the: stator carrying theneutralizing windings might be similar to the-main stator except for the magnitudes of the magnetic fields developed thereby; and it might be made magnetic. The

neutralizing. stator would then. be magnetically independent of themain stator. since its function is merely to induce in the rotor avoltage of appropriate phase and magnitude to substantially cancel out the negativesequence component created by the main stator field:at:.less than full skew.

Obviously, other means thanthe rheostats90, 9| and 92 may bev employed for controlling the strength of the neutralizing field. For. example, the neutralizing windings may be energized directly from the line through a phase changing transformer. Alternatively; the neutralizing windings might be provided: with tap-s. which could bebrought out a so as: tonenable; adjustment of the magnetic strength developed by them.

If desired, the neutralizing windings in Fig. 3 might be employed to cancel out undesirablehar monies generated by the mainfield at full skew, since there would be no negative sequence component in the main field which would require neutralization at that time. For this purpose, the neutralizing windingsv mightbe. connected to a source of different frequency than that. supplied by the mains LI, L2 and L3- From the foregoing, it willheunderstood that the invention provides alternating. current. dynamo electric machinery which iscapable of highly eiicctive operation as an adustablespeed motor. By providing independent axial. magnetic flux paths on the stator, adustable. annular flux is utilized in the operation of theurotor and-transi'iux is substantially eliminated; As aresult, the development of undesiredcomponents-in the rotating magnetic field is inhibited; the rotary space rate of all field components, including both the effective rotary field. rateand the average rate, is adjustable; the field flux couples or links only that portion of the. rotor Winding annularly between and beneath the phase .poles of each group; and improved efiiciency results.

As stated, care must be exercisedito insure that none of the elements of theapparatus will constitute a shorted conductor. around the axial flux path. Also, laminations disposed at right angles to each other should be insulated from each other by insulation or an air gap. so as .toprevent' them from mutually short=circuiting each other;

It will he observed that as the angle of'skew of the poles in Fig. 2 is decreased, the magnetic flux leakage axially of therot'or from any pair of poles tends to increase. Ifsdesired, compensation means such as a short-circuiteol' winding 93 of figure shape as shown in Figs. land 5', may be used for example.

The exemplary embodiment:v described. above and illustrated in the drawings is obviously susceptible of modification in form and detail within the spirit of the invention. Forexample, the invention is not limited to'motors employing only two axial magneticyokess. with their associated rows of poles but any number: of. axially yoked groups of poles may be used, as desired.

Further, the rotor axial fluxzlaminations might be'placed in the bottoms of :the slots for. the rotor conductors, instead of the positions shown in Fig. 1. Other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The specific embodiment. disaclosed herein, therefore, is not to be regarded.v as imposing any restrictions whatsoever upon the scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

1. In alternating current dynamo, electric machinery. the combination. of. arotor, means forming a low reluctance, low eddy current loss, magnetic path extending longitudinally of said rotor, a plurality of conductors carried by said rotor and insulated therefrom, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said rotor, said poles having pole faces disposed adjacent said rotor and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by successive phases of a polyphase source, means providing a low reluctance, low eddy current loss magnetic path extending longitudinally of said rotor and yoking said poles together magnetically, said rotor, poles and yoking means constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkages with said conductors when said windings are energized said poles are aligned parallel to said conductors, and means for moving said poles transversely of said rotor to adjust the pitch therebetween and skew said row relatively to the longitudinal axis of said rotor to cause the magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link at least some of said conductors.

In alternating current dynamo electric machinery, the combination of a rotor having a central core member formed of a plurality of longitudinally extending stacked laminations sur rounded by a plurality of radially extending, noncontinuous annular laminations, a plurality of conductors carried by said rotor and insulated therefrom, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said rotor, said poles having pole faces disposed adacent said rotor and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by successive phases of a polyphase source, a yoke member formed of stacked, longitudinally extending laminations extending longitudinally of said rotor and yoking said poles together magnetically, said rotor, magnetic poles and yoke member constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkages with said conductors when said windings are energized and said poles are aligned parallel to said conductors, and means for moving said poles transversely of said rotor to adjust the pitch therebctween and skew said row relatively to the longitudinal axis of said rotor to cause the magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link at least some of said conductors.

3. In combination, a plurality of pairs of opposed magnetic poles, the poles of each pair being magnetically independent and separated by a relatively large air gap and the pairs of poles being disposed parallel to one another with their air gaps in alignment, a plurality of windings associated with said respective magnetic poles, for establishing magnetic fluxes in the air gaps thereof, respectively, successive windings being adapted to be energized by successive phases of a polyphase source, conductor means having elemental portions lying in said air gaps, respectively, means mounting said conductor means for relative movement with respect to said magnetic poles, means associated with said conductor means and movable therewith for forming a magnetic flux path in the direction of said conductor means, means magnetically coupled with said magnetic poles and forming at least one magnetic flux path in the direction of said conductor means, and means for facilitating adjustment of the space phases of said magnetic fluxes relatively to each other.

4. In a polyphase alternating current dynamo electric machine, the combination of a housing,

a plurality of ring-like members rotatably mounted in the housing each carrying at least two magnetically independent poles separated by an air gap, said poles of each ring forming with corresponding poles of other rings at least two separate rows of poles, windings for each of said poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by successive phases of a polyphase alternating current source, a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation between said cooperating poles and spaced therefrom by a narrow air gap, elongated conductors on said rotor, means forming at least one axial magnetic flux path along said rotor, means cooperating with said ring-like members to form at least one independent axial magnetic flux path for each of said rows of poles along said housing, and means for rotating adjacent ring-like members relatively to one another to adjust the space phases between adjacent pairs of poles so as to produce a rotating magnetic field about the axis of said rotor.

5. A polyphase alternating current dynamo electric machine as in claim 6 further characterized by means for inhibiting eddy current losses in said ring-like members.

6. A rotor for a polyphase alternating current dynamo electric machine of the axial flux type comprising a core member of circular cross-section formed of a plurality of axially extending laminations stacked radially about the axis of the core member, a plurality of annular laminations concentrically surrounding said core member and stacked transversely to said axis, and means for providing a short high reluctance path between said core member and said annular laminations to prevent short-circuiting between said annular laminations and said axially extending laminations.

'7. A rotor as in claim 6 in which the annular laminations are radially slotted to inhibit eddy current losses, the slots of adjacent annular laminations being staggered in radial position.

8. In a polyphase alternating current dynamo electric machine, the combination of a housing, a plurality of ring-like members rotatably mounted in the housing each carrying at least two magnetically independent poles separated by an air gap, windings for each of said poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by successive phases of a polyphase alternating current source, a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation between said cooperating poles and spaced therefrom by a narrow air gap, said rotor comprising a central core formed of a plurality of longitudinally extending stacked laminations surrounded by a plurality of radially extending, noncontinuous, annular laminations, elongated conductors on said rotor, at least one yoke member formed of stacked, longitudinally extending laminations extending longitudinally of said rotor and yol-zing one group of said poles together magnetically, and means for rotating adjacent ring-like members relatively to one another to adjust the space phases between adjacent pairs of poles so as to produce a spirally moving magnetic field about the axis of said rotor.

9. In alternating current dynamo electric apparatus, the combination of an elongated member made of magnetic material, conductor means carried by said member and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said member, said poles having pole faces disposed adjacent said member and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by the successive phases of a polyphase source, controllable auxiliary field winding means for inducing in said conductor means a voltage of proper phase and magnitude to cancel any negative sequence voltage developed in said conductor means, means extending longitudinally of said member for yoking said poles together magnetically, said member, poles and yoking means constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkages with said conductor means when said windings are energized and said poles are aligned parallel to said conductor means, means permitting adjustment of the pitch between said poles transversely of said member to cause the magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link said conductor means, and means mounting said member and said magnetic poles for relative movement therebetween.

10. In alternating current dynamo electric apparatus, the combination of an elongated member made of magnetic material, conductor means carried by said member and extending longitudinal.y thereof, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said member, said poles having pole faces disposed adjacent said member and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by the successive phases of a polyphase source, controllable auxiliary field winding means for inducing in said conductor means a voltage of proper frequency, phase and magnitude to cancel any voltage of undesired frequency developed in said conductor means, means extending longitudinally of said member for yoking said poles together magnetically, said member, poles and yoking means constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkage with said conductor means when said windings are energized and said poles are aligned parallel to said conductor means, means permitting adjustment of the pitch between said poles transversely of said member to cause magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link said conductor means, and means mounting said member and said magnetic poles for relative movement therebetween.

11. In alternatiing current dynamo electric apparatus, the combination of an elongated member made of magnetic material, conductor means carried by said member and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said member, said poles having pole faces disposed adjacent said member and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, first windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by the successive phases of a polyphase source, second windings for said respective poles, successive second windings being adapted to be energized by a polyphase source so as to develop a magnetic field having negative phase sequence of propagation along said row of poles, means facilitating adjustment of the intensity of said negative sequence field, means extending longitudinally of said member for yoking said poles together magnetically, said member, poles and yoking means constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkage with said conductor means when said windings are energized and said poles are aligned parallel to said conductor means, means permitting adjustment of the pitch between said poles transversely of said member to cause magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link said conductor means, and means mounting said member and said magnetic poles for relative movement therebetween.

12. In alternatiing current dynamo electric apparatus, the combination of a member made of magnetic material, conductor means carried by said member, a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a row extending longitudinally of said conductor means, said poles having pole faces disposed adjacent said member and spaced therefrom by a relatively narrow air gap, windings for said respective poles, successive windings being adapted to be energized by the successive phases of a polyphase source, means extending longitudinally of said conductor means for yoking said poles together magnetically, said member, poles and yoking means constituting a complete magnetic circuit which establishes substantially no magnetic flux linkage with said conductor means when said windings are energized and said poles are aligned parallel to said conductor means, means permitting adjustment of the pitch between said poles transversely of said conductor means to cause magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit to link, said conductor means, means mounting said member and said magnetic poles for relative movement therebetween, and auxiliary windings means on said poles for reducing magnetic leakage between pairs of said poles as a function of the pitch between said poles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,514,474 Stewart Nov. 4, 1924 2,470,767 Ellis May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,970 Great Britain 1910 430,666 Great Britain June 24, 1935 

